Hundreds of lawyers from across the state of Belagavi gathered and blocked the Pune- Bengaluru national highway for two hours on Tuesday, and locked the main gate of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha (SVS) for over five hours from 12 PM demanding a legislation for the protection of lawyers. When the police arrived, the lawyers shouted slogans against the law minister, JC Madhuswamy, and demanded his visit to the protest spot to listen to their grievances. Madhuswamy delayed meeting the lawyers, and some of them attempted to enter the SVS through the surrounding farms, but the police blocked them with barricades. The lawyers broke the barricades and entered the SVS premises. Some entered the SVS through the surrounding farms and the police's attempt to stop them were in vain. Later, revenue minister, R Ashoka met the lawyers and assured them about discussing the issue with CM Basavaraj Bommai. Following the assurance, the lawyers dispersed. Speaking to the TOI advocate, Prabhu Yatnatti, said the protest was withdrawn after minister R Ashoka assured them about tabling the bill in the assembly as soon as Wednesday.
